A Rotten Temper

Late-autumn sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled light and shadows over the stone table.

Zhiyan sat in the courtyard, holding a cup of tea and quietly leafing through a dossier. Afternoons like this were perfectly ordinary for him-finish his work, read some records from Jujutsu Society, and occasionally look up at the koi in the courtyard pond.

A celadon tea set rested on the stone table. The drifting fragrance of tea mingled with the fresh scent of leaves, soothing the senses.

Then someone sat down.

Without a greeting or the slightest courtesy, he plopped down across from Zhiyan, picked up the teapot, and poured himself a cup.

Zhiyan did not even look up.

In the Zenin Clan, only one person could be this rude.

"Kid," the man said, taking a sip and frowning, "your tea's lousy. Too weak."

"Nobody invited you to drink it." Zhiyan turned a page, his tone flat. "If it's too weak, leave."

Toji Zenin clicked his tongue, set his cup on the table, and leaned back on the stone bench as if he were in his own backyard-which, technically, he was, though those people had long since stopped treating him as part of the family.

"Life's been pretty good to you lately, huh, kid?" Toji glanced sideways at him, wearing his usual smile, the kind that begged for a punch.

Zhiyan finally raised his head and looked at him.

A year apart, and the man was still the same-no, even more punchable.

"Likewise," he said, as unruffled as ever. "Sounds like you've been living it up out there, too."

Toji raised an eyebrow and said nothing.

-A year ago, right here in this courtyard, Toji had tossed his last pastry into his mouth, brushed the crumbs off his hands, and said offhandedly, "Kid, I've taught you everything I can."

Zhiyan had been eight then. He paused at those words before looking up at him.

"You're leaving?"

"Yeah." Toji stood and stretched. "Never had a knack for this anyway. Sticking it out and teaching you for two years was already doing you a favor. Figure out the rest yourself. You're smart enough."

With that, he headed out, only to look back at the courtyard gate.

"Oh, and don't tell that little girl I got kicked out. Tell her I left on my own."

Zhiyan looked at him in silence for a few seconds, then nodded.

Toji smiled, waved, and left without looking back.

After that, Zhiyan still heard news of him, though not often. Sometimes there were rumors of sightings; sometimes clan members muttered about "that useless bastard embarrassing himself out there again." Zhiyan never cared.

He knew Toji was not useless.

He simply did not belong here.

-Returning from his memories, Zhiyan looked at the man before him, whom he had not seen in two years. He was still as laid-back as ever, still wearing clothes of indeterminate quality, still sporting that smile that made people want to punch him.

"How've you been doing out there?" he asked, as casually as if he were asking about the weather.

Toji shrugged.

"Not bad. Take some jobs, make some money. Haven't starved." He took another sip and frowned again. "This tea really is lousy. Can't you get something better?"

"Did you come back just to drink tea?"

"Of course not." Toji set his cup down and looked at him, amusement and scrutiny mingling in his gaze. "Heard you went and arranged an engagement for yourself, kid?"

Zhiyan paused.

Only for an instant, before he lifted his cup again and took a sip.

"So what?"

Toji stared at him for a few seconds, then clicked his tongue.

"Seriously, someone can actually put up with that rotten temper of yours?"

Zhiyan's brow twitched.

"Rotten temper?"

"Yeah." Toji nodded and offered two words. "Total poser."

Zhiyan drew a deep breath.

He told himself not to rise to the bait. That was just how Toji was: a smart mouth and a punchable face, same as always. Let him get to you, and you lost.

"You've finished your tea. You can leave now."

Toji grinned, looking more punchable than ever.

"Aren't you usually the best at keeping your cool, kid?" He leaned back on the stone bench and crossed his legs. "A couple of words from me and you can't take it? And you're saying it's not an act?"

Zhiyan's expression darkened further.

Toji laughed even louder at the sight.

"All right, all right." He waved a hand, finally reining himself in a little. "I just heard about it and came to see if it was true."

He stood and brushed nonexistent dust off his clothes.

"As long as it's true. That little bride of yours-what was her name? Shoko Ieiri?-heard she can use Reverse Cursed Technique? Not bad, kid. You've got good taste."

Zhiyan said nothing.

Looking at him, Toji suddenly grew serious for a moment.

"Treat her well," he said, his tone earnest for a rare second. "Don't be like the old bastards in this family, treating everyone like tools."

Then his usual flippant air returned.

"All right, I'm not sticking around. Got a job. Time to go."

He turned to leave, then looked back after a couple of steps.

"Oh, right." He winked at Zhiyan. "Let me meet that little bride of yours sometime. I want to see what kind of girl can put up with that rotten temper."

Before the words had quite faded, his figure flashed, and he vanished from the courtyard.

Zhiyan remained seated, looking at the stone bench across from him, still holding a trace of warmth, and fell silent for a few seconds.

Then he lowered his head and went back to drinking his tea.

But the corners of his mouth curved slightly upward.

It was good that he'd come back.

Whatever the circumstances, it was good that he'd come back.

The leaves rustled, and the sunlight remained dappled.

Zhiyan had just set down his cup when he heard soft footsteps behind him.

They were light and unhurried, with something familiar about them.

He did not turn around. His smile merely deepened a little.

"You're here?"

"Mm."

Shoko sat beside him and picked up the teapot just as naturally, pouring herself a cup.

She took a sip and tilted her head slightly.

"This tea... is a little weak."

Zhiyan glanced at her.

"Someone else just said that."

"Just now?" Shoko blinked. "Who was here?"

"Someone..." Zhiyan considered it. "Not particularly reliable."

Shoko looked at him, her eyes curving with a smile.

"A relative?"

"You could say that," Zhiyan said. "My cousin. Toji Zenin."

Shoko nodded without asking further. She was always like that: she did not ask what she should not, and even what she could ask, she might leave alone. Yet her eyes were always bright, as though they could see through anything.

Holding her cup, she drank quietly for a while, then suddenly spoke.

"What did he say?"

Zhiyan paused.

"Nothing much."

"Really?"

Shoko looked at him, her gaze as clear as spring water.

Zhiyan met her eyes, stayed silent for a few seconds, then looked away.

"...Said I had a rotten temper."

Shoko blinked, then laughed.

Her laughter was clear and bright, like wind chimes.

"A rotten temper?" she repeated, her eyes smiling. "That's pretty apt."

Zhiyan looked at her, a little helpless.

"You think I have a rotten temper, too?"

"No." Shoko shook her head. "I just think anyone who can say that to you must be pretty interesting."

Zhiyan fell silent for a moment.

"He is pretty interesting," he said. "Unreliable, a smart mouth, but..."

He paused.

"But he's a good person."

Shoko looked at him without pressing further and simply took another sip of tea.

Sunlight fell over her, bathing her in a pale golden glow. She wore a light-blue kimono today, with a small white silk flower pinned in her hair. Everything about her looked soft and gentle.

Zhiyan suddenly remembered what Toji had said before leaving.

"Let me meet that little bride of yours sometime."

He looked at Shoko, his lips curving without his realizing it.

"What are you smiling about?" Shoko asked.

"Nothing," he said. "I just think..."

"Think what?"

Zhiyan considered it.

"It's nice having someone who can put up with my rotten temper."

Shoko froze for a second, then smiled.

Her smile was brighter than the sunlight.

"Of course," she said, her eyes curving. "Who else would want you?"

They looked at each other and both laughed.

The leaves rustled, and koi swam leisurely through the pond.

Afternoons like this were wonderful.

"Young Master Zhiyan."

A voice from the courtyard gate broke the peace.

Zhiyan turned to see an attendant bowing at the entrance, one of Naobito Zenin's men.

"What is it?"

"The clan head requests your presence," the attendant said. "There is an important matter to discuss."

Zhiyan nodded.

"Understood."

The man bowed again, then turned and left.

Shoko looked at Zhiyan, tilting her head slightly.

"Time to go?"

"Mm." Zhiyan stood. "Want to come?"

Shoko thought for a moment, then shook her head.

"I'll go see Wana. She said she'd show me the new bookmark she made today."

Zhiyan nodded and said nothing more.

They left the courtyard together and parted at the covered walkway. Shoko headed toward Wana's courtyard, while Zhiyan went toward his father's study.

After a few steps, he looked back.

Shoko had already rounded the walkway's corner and vanished from sight.

His lips curved, and he continued forward.

Inside the study, Naobito Zenin was, unusually, not drinking.

He sat at his desk with a letter in hand, his brow slightly furrowed.

"You're here?" He glanced up at Zhiyan. "Sit."

Zhiyan sat across from him.

"What is it?"

Naobito Zenin handed him the letter.

"From the Kamo Clan."

Zhiyan took it, unfolded it, and read carefully.

The letter was short but contained plenty of information. In essence, a banquet would be held somewhere in Kyoto tomorrow, jointly hosted by the Three Great Families. The younger members of each family were invited, with the aim of "fostering friendship and exchanging skills."

Zhiyan finished reading and set the letter back on the desk.

"You want me to attend?"

"Yes," Naobito Zenin said. "They call it a gathering for the younger generation, but it's really a chance for each family to show off and see what the next generation has to offer. The Kamo Clan's produced a prodigy lately, and that little tyrant in the Gojo Clan is old enough to start making trouble. Naturally, our family can't be absent."

He paused and looked at Zhiyan.

"Your mind's been on that girl lately, so you probably haven't paid much attention to these things. But you still have to attend when you should."

Zhiyan was silent for a moment.

"What about Shoko?"

Naobito Zenin raised an eyebrow.

"You want to bring her?"

"She's a jujutsu sorcerer too," Zhiyan said. "Besides, her cursed technique will have to become public sooner or later. Rather than keep her hidden, we should find a suitable occasion to introduce her."

Naobito Zenin looked at him and suddenly smiled.

"Kid, do you want to introduce her, or do you just not want her to be alone?"

The tips of Zhiyan's ears reddened slightly.

"Both."

Naobito Zenin's smile widened.

"All right, all right. Both." He waved a hand. "Bring her if you want. Let those people see that our Zenin Clan doesn't just have a Reverse Cursed Technique Sorcerer-she's also our future daughter-in-law. Maybe then they'll stop coveting her."

As he spoke, something else occurred to him.

"Oh, right. That genius from the Kamo Clan will be there tomorrow too. What was his name again... Noritoshi Kamo? I think he's a year older than you two. And that little princeling from the Gojo Clan, Satoru Gojo. He's another troublemaker."

He glanced at Zhiyan.

"Don't get into any fights with them."

Zhiyan nodded.

"I know."

Naobito Zenin looked at him and suddenly smiled again.

"But don't be afraid if a fight does break out. The Zenin Clan isn't made of paper," he said. "All right, go get ready. Leave early tomorrow."

Zhiyan stood up and walked to the door, then stopped.

"Father."

"Yes?"

"Toji's back."

Naobito Zenin paused.

"I know," he said evenly. "Did he come to your place?"

"Yes."

Naobito Zenin fell silent for a few seconds, then waved a hand.

"Let him do as he pleases. That boy was never one you could keep on a leash."

Zhiyan nodded, slid the door open, and left.

Alone in the study, Naobito Zenin sat gazing at the bamboo grove outside the window.

After a long while, he sighed.

"That little brat..."

Toward evening, Zhiyan returned to his courtyard.

He sat down at the stone table, looking at the celadon tea set and thinking about what Toji had said that day.

"Poser."

He shook his head.

That guy, honestly...

"Zhiyan?"

Shoko's voice came from the courtyard gate.

He looked up and saw her standing there with something in her hand.

"Wanwan asked me to bring this to you." She walked over and set it on the stone table.

It was a bookmark.

Handmade and a little rough, but crafted with care. A red maple leaf had been drawn on it, with a few crooked words beside it: "For Big Brother-Wanwan."

Zhiyan picked up the bookmark, studied it for a few seconds, then carefully put it away.

Shoko sat down beside him and looked at him.

"Are you going to a banquet tomorrow?"

"Yes." Zhiyan nodded. "You're coming too."

Shoko blinked.

"Me?"

"Yes," Zhiyan said. "It's time you went out and met people too. Jujutsu Society will find out about you sooner or later. We might as well take this opportunity to introduce you openly."

Shoko thought for a moment, then nodded.

"All right."

She asked no further questions and made no excuses, simply agreeing in her usual quiet way.

Looking at her, Zhiyan suddenly felt as though he had nothing to worry about with her beside him.

She was always like this-quiet and unassuming, yet endlessly reassuring.

"Shoko."

"Yes?"

"Tomorrow..." He paused. "If anyone says anything unpleasant, don't take it to heart."

Shoko looked at him, her eyes curving with a smile.

"You mean someone might look down on me for being 'a child from an ordinary family'?"

Zhiyan fell silent for a moment.

"...Yes."

Shoko tilted her head and considered it.

"Then will you speak up for me?"

"I will."

"Then that's all I need," she said, her tone as calm as ever. "With you there, what do I have to be afraid of?"

Zhiyan looked at her, suddenly at a loss for words.

He simply reached out and took her hand.

Shoko didn't pull away. She only gave his palm a gentle scratch.

They sat at the stone table, watching the sun slowly sink and bathe the entire courtyard in a warm red glow.

Koi swam in the pond, occasionally flicking their tails and sending up little splashes.

Tomorrow would bring crowds, countless eyes, and scrutiny both kind and unkind.

But at that moment, there were only the two of them.

Only the sunset, the old trees, and the quiet courtyard.

And their clasped hands.

"Zhiyan."

"Yes?"

"Smile a little more tomorrow."

Zhiyan turned to look at her.

"Why?"

"Because you look good when you smile," Shoko said, her eyes crinkling. "Let those people see it too."

Zhiyan was silent for a second, then his lips curved.

"All right."

Shoko looked at his smile and nodded in satisfaction.

"That's more like it."

The last light of sunset faded, and night fell.

Elsewhere, the Zenin Clan's grounds blazed with light, but only faint moonlight lit this little courtyard.

Two nine-year-old children sat at the stone table, hand in hand, watching the moon slowly rise.

Tomorrow could wait until tomorrow.

Tonight, I only want to watch the moon with you.